The Tao Of Gospel Application

The Chinese concept of Tao signifies a way of doing something. Rather than being a mechanical method, it actually refers to a doctrine which is executed naturally and without rigidity within every area of life. While Chinese philosophy is not in any way Christian one may learn something useful nevertheless. Even the apostle Paul was familiar with the philosophy of the pagans while keeping his world and life focus God-ward.
The term Tao is primarily used symbolically and often abstractly in its sense of 'the way'. It signifies the 'right' or 'proper' way of existence in the context of the ongoing practices of life. Once the Tao is perfected the man then can walk in harmony with the “way of truth.” Unlike the Chinese who see truth as being in harmony with nature, for the Christian Christ is the Way of Truth and only by the exercise of His Word can man be secure on the pathway of Truth. Of courses the Chinese Taoists are patently wrong on their definition and practice of truth and are in fact walking in a way which is anti-truth and thus anti-Christ. Yet, the concept of Tao may be of some interest to the Christian especially in light of so many hypocrite professors filling both our churches and pulpits. While outwardly professing Godliness there is a serious lack of evidence for Biblical Christianity. To put it in terms of the Tao, they haven’t any.

Biblical Christianity must show for its validity in outward evidence. Christianity must monopolize the entirety of the soul, mind and body. True Christianity embraces the Word of God as the Divine dictates of the “Way”. However, when it comes to living a life which is not only seriously patterned after the Word of God, but uses the Word of God to affect the cultural order, too many Christians are looking for a rigid playbook of tactics by which they can mechanically apply to the societal order. While a playbook is helpful and warrants discussion and development, the Cultural mandate requires more.
There needs to be that component, which is almost indefinable, which exists within the True Saint and which only comes by virtue of the New Birth. 

In order to apply the principles of the Law and the Gospel to the culture the Word must become a natural part of you.  It must flow from you. It must be part of your thinking process. It must be readily available to dispense at any given moment in any given situation. It musts be natural. It must be “the Way of your life” affecting every fiber of your being. The Word of God, its meaning and the way in which it is to be applied, must become a natural Way of Life. That is what the Chinese mean by Tao. The Word of God must become your Tao. While the Chinese Taoists certainly have the wrong “Tao” it seems they have touched upon the right concept. At least they are consistent.

The Prophet  Ezekiel declares,

Eze 36:26-28 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.